The Portland daily press., 1887-05-28
A BULLET IN THE BRAIN.
Remarkable Surgical Operation Per-
formed upon an Old Confederate
officer-A Lump Of Lead that had
been carried since Gettysburg.
New York SUM-

been Carried SiuSo AottySpurS.
New York SUM-
The instances where men have carried bull
let's in their brains and lived are nearly as
rare as the fabulous hens teeth. Col Hen
nv Pickens. who was discharged last week
from BELLEVUE Hospital afforded notable
case. He was an officer in the Confederate
army. His home is at Lexington, KY. He
was wounded at the battle Of Gettysburg in
1868. Since that time he has carried bullet
constantly in his brain. 1t gave him pain
from time to time, varying in intensity. Of
late wears it had been more painful. Physi-
clans who were acquainted with his case
told him that it would kill him, yet on Tues
day last he went home to Lexington sound
in body and mind, with the bullet extracted.
How narrowly he escaped death may be
gathered from the particulars Of his case.
Nearly eight weeks ago the bystanders at
the corner of Broadway and Fourth street
saw a well-dressed man walking slowly up
the street leaning heavily on cane. Just as
he got to the corner he staggered against
window. He seemed to recover his balance
by the power of will, but after taking few
more steps he stopped suddenly, raised his
hands to his head, and fell PROSTATE. Blood
oozed from wound in the forehead where
he had struck. An ambulance was sum-
moned. 1t was some time before it came
Gathering along the street, sounding the
sharp gong. The ambulance surgeon saw
that the PROSTATE man was breathing heavi-
ly. There was no odor Of alcohol about
about him. He was picked up and hurried
ly driven so the hospital. There was moth
ing in his clothes to lead to his Identification.
The word unknown" that is so often writ
ten on the records of the hospital, was en-
tered in the book at the end of brief de-
scription of his appearance.
From what could be learned about the
case it was thought that the man was suffer-
seemed to be most affected, though the en-
tire body showed the distinguishing marks
of the disease. The patient was kept quiet
for several hours awaiting possible abate-
ment of the shock. Then, as there were no
signs of improvement, a strong electric bath
was given. 1t was kept up for about an
hour, and was followed by vigorous rubbing,
sharp skin irritations, cold applications to
the head and warm ones to the feet. There
was an improvement in the patients condi-
no lucid interval. Whatever there was of
virtue in medicine was tried. When nothing
more could be done to revive the patient he
was put into cot and left in quietneSs to
await the coming of the dread messenger,
who it was thought was close at hand.
While putting bandage on the patients
bead, DIR. Parker who makes a speciality of
the brain and its injuries, noticed an old
scar on the left side of his head. Upon put
ting light pressure upon the skull at this
point it was found to be indented and to be
formed Of an elastic cartilagenous substance.
What could have been the cause of this con-
dition? In DR.. Parker's opinion there had
been an injury to the bone, probably frac-
ture, and relief had been given by trephin-
ing. This threw new light on the patients
case. 1t awakened strong probability that
the brain had been injured by blow, and
that the unconscious condition was the re-
suit of the gradual development of an OBJ
struction to the normal action of the brain.
What the obstruction was could only be a
matter of conjecture. There was no history
from the patient himself or his friends, as
they were unknown. 1t was evident from
the peculiar formation of the indentation
that there had been serious laceration of
the brain substance.
DR.. Terrier has demonstrated by expert
ments upon living animals that the brain con-
sists Of motor areas, and that by applying a
galyanic current to particular portion of
the brain it would always be followed by GER
tain movements in the same muscles. DIR.
Parke, was with DR.. Ferrier for
deeply interested in the subject Of the
motor areas in the brain as indicating a
method of relief in injuries to the brain. He
has been q deep student, and on both ami
mails and the human being he has conducted
the brain the control of particular
muscles. lie has found by expert
ment that the muscles Of the left
hand and arm were seemingly controlled by
a section Of the, brain in the right side Of
the head near The CENTRE In the unconscious
man it was found by close watching that he
could move his left leg much better than he
could his left arm, though not as well as he
could the hand and arm on the right side Of
the body. The left arm was cold and was
conditions DIR. Parker concluded that there
was some brain interference in the right
side Of the head, near the top. Well, of what
value was this to the surgeon? 1t pointed
out probable means of relief. 1t is true
that there was nothing certainly demonstrat-
ed, and to follow the indications was largely
experimental and hazardous; but as there
was none Of the patients friends to consult
with and the patient himself could not speak,
the surgeon did what he thought was best
for the patient and the interests of science.
The patient was removed to the operating
room, and, in the presence of large number
OF physicians, the surgeon cut Oft the pa
TENTS hair on the right side, and made a
triangular incisiOn in the scalp about three
inches long. The flesh was dissected up
within the lines Of the incision. and long
flap was made. Without moments hesita-
ton the surgeon forced a trephine of the
largest size through the skull, which was I'M
usually thick and hard. A button of bone
was removed about an inch and half in di-
ameter, and the brain substance came up
through the opening in the skull, showing
that there was pressure within. There was
notnlng In the appearance of the brain to in
dictate that there was anything wrong near
the surface. Upon pressing the brain back
through the opening, which could be easily
done, as the membrane was not ruptured.
the surgeon detected, with his fingers hard
substance on the under side of the opening.
A piece OF bone was removed at this point
with fine f0rceps, and a cystic tumor was
found Embedded in the brain. How deep it
extended could not be told. but the surgeon
at a venture sank his knife into the brain
substance and began cutting the tumor out.
1t was delicate work and skilfully done. At
ter about an inch and half of the brain had
been divided the end of the tumor was found,
and the entire mass was removed without
much difficulty. A large hole was left in the
brain, and there was considerable hemor-
rhage, which fortunately did not last long.
While the flap was being returned to posi-
ton on the skull, one of the assistants cut
the tumor in half to discover its nature, and
was surprised to find firmly imbedded on one
side a large bullet 1t was much fattened
and looked like one of the largest revolver
bullets.
The patient fingered between life and
death for many days, and then there was
marked Improvement in the condition of his
| body. The temperature became normal and
| the power of motion slowly returned. The
Improvement was steady. and at the end OF
four weeks the patient had become conscious
| and soon afterward was able to talk without
4 md tbe